The big day is finally here! In addition to the new do, I'm sporting lots of excitement while presenting EMERGENCE to the public.

Photograph by Joyce Taihei

It was really lovely to have the support of Boston Center for the Arts (BCA) Associate Director of Visual Arts Randi Hopkins by my side as I spoke with the public about the inspiration, process, and complexities of hope I explored with community members while creating EMERGENCE. Overall, I felt most satisfied by the openness and honesty generated from the conversations I had with people during the SHARE SOME HOPE: Community Survey events in June. Seeing those conversations evolve into questions, sketches, symbols, and now the EMERGENCE sculpture on the BCA Plaza has been quite a journey.

Photograph by Melissa Blackall

In the spirit of continuing the community input, there were some tables set up for people to respond visually as they engaged with the sculpture. Participants had to option to do the following activities:

Activity 1: WEAR SOME HOPE

Create a pin that displays your thoughts about what hope is.

Activity 2: SHARE MORE HOPE

Write down your hopes for the future on symbols that will be added to the sculpture.

Photograph by Melissa Blackall

Photograph by Melissa Blackall

Photograph by Joyce Taihei

Photograph by Melissa Blackall

Photograph by Joyce Taihei

Photograph by Melissa Blackall

Photograph by Joyce Taihei

Photograph by Melissa Blackall

Photograph by Joyce Taihei

Photograph by Melissa Blackall

Photograph by Joyce Taihei

Photograph by Melissa Blackall

Photograph by Joyce Taihei

In the midst of all of the art making goodness, I also got a chance to share the portfolio which houses all of the original responses and symbols generated from talking to people who came to the SHARE SOME HOPE Community Survey back in June. It was really great to answer questions and listen to people's reactions to my process and the sculpture. There were a few folks who made a game of hunting for the symbols they viewed in the portfolio within the sculpture.

Photograph by Joyce Taihei

Photograph by Melissa Blackall

Photograph by Joyce Taihei

Photograph by Melissa Blackall

Photograph by Melissa Blackall

Photograph by Melissa Blackall

Photograph by Joyce Taihei

Photograph by Joyce Taihei

Photograph by Melissa Blackall

Photograph by Joyce Taihei

Photograph by Melissa Blackall

Photograph by Melissa Blackall

Overall, it was a great day. Stay tuned for an additional date in the Fall when people can add more of their hopes to the sculpture!